Plans to create Europe’s first artificial surf reef on the south coast have been given the go ahead by the Marine and Fisheries Agency.

The agency last week granted Bournemouth Borough Council in Dorset a special environment licence to begin construction of the £1.4m project.

Construction next spring, with the reef set to be completed by October.

The surf reef will be accompanied by a surf-themed retail outlet, a surfing academy and a glass-fronted restaurant as well as a catering outlet.

Designers Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway are creating beach huts for both surfers and holiday makers.

Roger Brown, head of leisure services at Bournemouth, said: “Weather conditions permitting, we anticipate to complete the reef by Autumn 2008 and this will result in the surf reef and land-based retail, catering, and surf-instruction facilities being completed together.”

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By Kerstin Kühn

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